article
Divinations, confessions, testimonies: Zulu confrontations with the social superstructure
Institute for Social Research, University of Natal • (9) • Published In 1967 • Pages: ii, 33
By: Fernandez, James W..
Abstract
In this short monograph, Fernandez applies Erving Goffman's ideas about the 'backstage dimensions' of social interaction, how an understanding of the behind-the-scenes information is necessary to a study of religious cults in and around Durban. Fernandez looks at diviners and divination as traditional forms of religious behavior, and confessions and testimonies as both traditional and modern behaviors and shows how all of these forms of interaction bring the Zulu into contact with what he calls the social superstructure, the supernatural backstage on which definitions of any particular social interaction are based.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2005
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Southern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Martin Malone ; 1979
- Field Date
- 1965
- Coverage Date
- 1965
- Coverage Place
- Durban region, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Notes
- [by] James W. Fernandez
- Address given at the Annual Meeting of the Institute for Social Research, University of Natal, October 1965
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 70376347
- LCSH
- Zulu (African people)